Steve Webb
Hernandez At-bat Highlights Murky Check-Swing Standard
DENVER, CO — Some say that baseball is a game of inches, but in the case of the Dodgers on June 18, it was a game of millimeters. After scoring four runs in the top of the ninth to pull within one against the Colorado Rockies, Teoscar Hernandez came to the plate, and he quickly got behind in the count 1-2. Then this happened:
And of course, on the very next pitch Teoscar Hernandez smashed a three-run bomb into the Rockies’ bullpen to give the Dodgers the lead and the eventual win. However, the Dodgers have been on the wrong side of a check swing call plenty of times themselves, most notably in 2021 when Kenley Jansen thought he had Darin Ruf struck out, but instead walked in the tying run. That game would prove to be the difference in who would win the National League West that year.
It seems pretty likely that both players in fact did go around, but the calls themselves highlights the sometimes mysterious criteria for what is and what is not a swing. It’s a controversy that has gone back to the beginning of baseball, and one that will continue long after Tuesday’s game has faded from memory.
The check swing in baseball is a moment of uncertainty, where a batter attempts to stop their swing after it has begun, often in an effort to avoid swinging at a pitch outside the strike zone. This action has evolved over the history of baseball, shaped by rules, interpretations, and controversies that have marked its journey from a mere gesture to a crucial moment in the game.
The concept of a check swing dates back to the early days of baseball in the 19th century when the rules governing what constituted a swing were much less defined than they are today. Initially, a swing was judged solely by the intent of the batter, making it subjective and prone to disputes between players, umpires, and fans alike.
As the game progressed and rules became more standardized, the definition of a check swing began to take shape. It was around the early 20th century that the check swing started to be formally recognized in the rulebook, though its exact definition and enforcement continued to be a source of debate. Umpires were tasked with making split-second decisions based on their judgment of whether the batter had made a genuine attempt to swing at the pitch.
The 1950s and 1960s saw significant developments in the interpretation of the check swing. Umpires began to rely more on whether the barrel of the bat crossed the plate rather than solely on the batter’s intent. This shift aimed to provide a clearer standard for what constituted a swing, reducing the ambiguity that had long surrounded the call.
Despite efforts to clarify the rules, controversies surrounding the check swing persisted. Close calls often led to heated arguments between players, managers, and umpires, highlighting the subjective nature of the rule. The check swing became a focal point in critical moments of games, where the outcome could hinge on a single call. Some have suggested making the check swing a reviewable call, but as this video shows, differing views can lead to differing interpretations, based on the angle of the camera:
The check swing continues to evolve alongside the game itself. Changes in pitching strategies and advancements in player training have influenced how batters approach their swings, affecting the frequency and execution of check swings in modern baseball. Despite these changes, the check swing remains a pivotal moment that can sway the course of a game, making it a subject of ongoing scrutiny and discussion among players, fans, and officials alike.
But if we’re honest, usually our opinion about a check swing is usually determined by which uniform the player in the batter’s box is wearing. And as they say, that’s baseball.
